Yarn handling apparatus



United States Patent 3,424,359 YARN HANDLING APPARATUS Roland O. Houle, Pawtucket, and Hans H. Richter, Cranston, R.I., assignors to Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed July 17, 1967, Ser. No. 653,759

US. Cl. 22697 Claims Int. Cl. B65h 17/28, 17/32 ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to apparatus for handling an advancing strand of yarn and, more particularly, to an aspirator for handling the strand.

Throughout the following specification, the term yarn means all kinds of strand material, either textile or otherwise, and the term package means the product of a winding or twisting machine, whatever its form.

During winding of packages of yarn from a continuously advancing strand of yarn, it is common practice when a package is full, to cut the strand of yarn and pass the advancing strand through an aspirator and into a collection receptacle. The aspirator is then usually used to thread the strand of yarn onto a new core for winding another package. Commercially available aspirators have been found unsatisfactory for handling the yarn at higher speeds (3,000 to 5,000 y.p.m.) desired in more modern textile equipment. One problem is that available air pressure in many textile mills is relatively low, about 80 psi. maximum.

To overcome these difficulties, the present invention is, in brief, directed to an aspirator of substantially increased capacity over that which has previously been commercially practical at normally available operating pressures. In order to handle the rapidly advancing strand at readily available operating pressures, the aspirator has a venturi through which a vortex is encased in a rapidly moving laminar stream, for moving the strand at high speed.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide new and improved apparatus for handling a continuously advancing strand of yarn.

Another object of this invention is to provide new and improved aspirator apparatus having substantially increased capacity.

A further object of this invention is to provide new and improved aspirator apparatus through which the strand is propelled by a stream including a vortex encased in a high velocity laminar stream.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic elevational view of a winding machine including a preferred embodiment of the invention in the form of yarn handling apparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of the yarn handling apparatus as shown in FIG. 1, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged, fragmentary sectional elevational view of a portion of the structure shown in FIG. 2, and illustrating an additional feature of the invention;

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FIGS. 4, 5, and 6 are fragmentary elevational views of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2, in progressive stages of operation, with parts broken away and in section of clearer illustration;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary elevational view of an actuating valve shown in FIG. 2, with parts broken away and in section for clearer illustration;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 88 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 9-9 in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIG. 1 in the drawings, a winding machine 10 receives a continuously advancing strand of yarn Y from a suitable source of supply such as a spinneret (not shown). The yarn makes multiple passes around a godet roll 11 and a filament separator 12 and then passes through yarn handling apparatus 13. From this apparatus, the yarn passes around a roller 14 on a compensator arm 15 and then upwardly through a traversing mechanism 16 which guides the yarn as it is wound into a package P on a takeup sprindle 17. When the package P is full, the yarn handling apparatus 13 is operated to cut the strand Y and direct the advancing strand from the spinneret into a container 18. The strand of yarn may advance at speeds in excess of 5,000 yards per minute.

As shown in FIG. 1 and in greater detail in FIG. 2, the strand handling apparatus 13 includes a strand cutter 19 for cutting the advancing strand Y. The cut strand is diverted by an injector 20 into a strand inlet 21 of an aspirator 22 from which the advancing strand is discharged via a flexible tube 23 into the container 18 which is vented as through a screen 24. The apparatus is operated by a pressurized fluid, usually compressed air at about psi, supplied through a conduit 25 and an actuating valve 26 to the injector 20 and through another conduit 27 and a shutoff valve 28 to the aspirator 22.

When it is desired to terminate winding of the strand Y onto the package P, the shutoff valve 28 in the air conduit 27 to the aspirator 22 is opened and the actuating valve 26 in the air conduit 25 to the injector 20 is operated. With the actuating valve 26 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, and operating flange 29 (FIG. 1) on a valve member 30 is rapidly rotated clockwise from a position with a spring-pressed ball detent 31 in a body 31 of the valve seated in a first recess 33 in the valve member 30, to a position with the ball detent 31 seated in a second recess 34 in the valve member. As the valve member 30 is rotated between these positions, a passage 35 through the valve member momentarily connects an inlet passage 36 in the valve body 32 with an outlet passage 37 in the body so that compressed air from the supply conduit 25 passes into the injector 20. After the passage 35 in the valve member has passed the inlet and outlet passages, a vent passage 38 in the valve member connects the outlet passage 37 with a vent 39 in the valve body 32 to release the air from the injector 20. The next time the apparatus is operated, the valve member 30 is turned counterclockwise so that the passage 35 again momentarily connects the inlet and outlet passages and then a second vent passage 40 in the valve member connects the outlet passage 37 with a second vent 41 in the valve body as the ball detent 31 again seats in the first recess 33 in the valve member 30.

When the actuating valve 26 is operated, compressed air passes through the injector supply conduit 25 and an air inlet 42 (FIG. 2) in a rigid injector body 43 and into a hollow cylinder 44 of the body to move a piston 45 (about /2 sq. inch area) in the cylinder 44 to the left from a normal, retracted position as shown in FIG. 2. The piston 45 is concentrically, fixedly secured intermediate opposite ends of a tube 46. The rear (right) end of the tube is sealed by a plug 47 securely fixed in the tube 3 end. The left end of the tube extends slidably through a cylinder end wall 48 and is fixedly secured to a plunger 49 which is moved along with the piston 45 from the retracted position (FIG. 2) to an extended position (about inch total stroke) as shown in FIG. 6.

A magnet 50 (5 lbs.) in a rear closure member 51 of the rigid injector body 43 holds the tube 46 in place in the retracted position of the plunger 49 until a predetermined air pressure p.s.i.) has built up in the cylinder 44, whereupon the tube 46 breaks loose from the magnet 50 and the plunger 49 is accelerated more rapidly than it would without such restraint.

The plunger has a tip 52 with a generally frusto-conical configuration conforming generally to an inwardly converging configuration of the strand inlet 21 in the aspirator 22. A notch 53 in the apex of the plunger tip 52 receives the strand Y as the plunger 49 moves toward its extended position (FIG. 4). In moving to the extended position, the plunger 49 engages the strand Y after about inch plunger movement, and then moves the strand into the strand inlet 21 of the aspirator 22 as the cutter 19 cuts the strand (FIG. 5) after about W inch plunger movement.

Just before the strand Y is cut, a port 54 near the rear end of the injector tube 46 clears the front end of a seal member 55 (after about /2 inc-h plunger movement) fixedly secured at the rear of the injector cylinder 44. Compressed air then passes into the tube 46 and through a passage 56 communicating with the front end of the tube and terminating in a port 57 (about A,; inch diameter) at the base of the injector notch 53. The air leaves the port in the form of a jet 58 (FIGS. 46) which impinges the strand Y to drive it into the strand inlet 21, as shown in FIG. 5, and to prevent the strand from moving rearwardly out of the aspirator 22. Continued movement of the plunger 49 to its extended position causes a resilient washer 54 on the rear end of the injector tube 46, and seated against a transverse flange 60 on the plug 47, to strike the cylinder seal member 55. As the washer 59 is compressed, the plunger 49 remains spaced sumciently from the surface of the strand inlet 21 (FIG. 6) so that the strand Y may move freely through the inlet. A free end on the cut is sufficiently long that it forms a return portion 61 (FIGS. 5 and 6) as it passes through the aspirator strand inlet.

The injector plunger 49, tube 46 and piston 45 are returned from the extended position (FIG. 6) to the retracted position (FIG. 2) by a compression spring 62 (2 to 3 lbs.) teleseoped about the tube 46 and seated on the front end wall 48 of the injector cylinder 44 and against the piston 45. Holes, as 63, in the injector body 43 provide vents for the free passage of air into and out of the cylinder 44 between the piston 45 and the cylinder end wall 48 as the plunger 49 is moved to the retracted position and the extended position, respectively.

As mentioned previously, as the plunger 49 moves to its extended position, the cutter 19 is operated to out the strand Y. More particularly and with reference to FIG. 2, a pair of pins 64 (FIG. 8) one fixedly secured to either side of the plunger 49, are received in elongated notches 65 in opposite side edges of a cutter blade 66 slidably mounted atop a cutter body 67 fixedly secured to and depending from the injector body 43. The pins 64 and notches 65 provide a lost motion connection between the plunger 49 and the cutter blade 66 such that the blade is delayed in cutting the strand Y until after the jet 58 has started and the plunger 49 has moved to the position shown in FIG. 5. As the cutter blade 66 engages the strand Y (FIG. 5) it, moves the strand against a outting edge 68 of a strand guide 69 in the cutter body 67. A similar strand guide 70 is in a bracket '71 (FIGS. 1 and 2) which depends from the cutter body 67. These guides 'have reduced necks 72 (FIG. 8) opening through edges of the cutter body 67 and bracket 7:]. for the passage of the strand Y into the guides.

With reference to the aspirator 22, (FIG. 2), as the strand Y enters the strand inlet 21 it passes through a conduit 73 in an inlet portion 74 of a hollow body 75 of the aspirator and into an elongated throat 76 (FIGS. 2 and 3) of a venturi passage 77 formed by the inner surface of the body 75. The conduit 73 is fixedly secured in the venturi passage 77 by a clamping sleeve 78 threaded into the body 76 and a smaller clamping sleeve 79 threaded into the first sleeve 78 and against a suitable sealing packing 80 about the conduit 73.

By introducing the strand Y into the conduit 73 which the return portion 61 at its free end, as previously mentioned, the conduit 73 is more completely filled so that air flow through the conduit is more effective in moving the strand into the aspirator throat 76. After the return portion 61 passes through the conduit 73 and into the throat 76, only one thickness of the strand Y runs through the conduit so that friction is reduced.

Compressed air for operating the aspirator 22 is introduced through the aspirator supply conduit 27 and a nipple 81 opening into the inlet portion 74 of the aspirator body 75 and, more particularly, into the upstream end of the venturi. This nipple 81 is inclined at about 18 to the axis of the venturi 77 in a direction toward the venturi throat 76.

The air passes between the outside of the conduit 73 and the venturi surface 77 to an end of the conduit at the upstream end of the elongated throat 76. This end of the conduit is provided with a plurality of helical lands and grooves 82, and as shown in FIG. 9, with four helical grooves. These lands and grooves may have a 'half inch lead for 840 to 1,300 denier yarn Y at a speed of about 3,500 y.p.-m. with the grooves as wide and deep as is practical. The lands and grooves 82 are tapered at about 9 to the venturi axis at the end of the conduit, and are generally parallel to the venturi axis at the end of the conduit, and are generally parallel to the venturi axis at their rear ends. The lands and grooves 82 cause the compressed air to spiral and enter the throat 76 in the for-m of a vortex 83 (FIG. 3) which has low axial velocity and very high tangential velocity. The vortex 83 is encircled by a high velocity stream 84 of laminar air passing generally parallel to the venturi axis and generally along the surface of the venturi 77.

Thus, as the strand Y emerges from the conduit 73, the vortex 83 causes it to follow a generally spiral path transverse to the venturi axis through the venturi throat 76 and outlet portion 85 of the venturi 77. This spiral path causes the strand Y to move into the laminar stream 84, which propels the strand at high velocity through the aspirator, and at substantially the same speed that the strand advances through the winding machine 10 during winding. The laminar stream 84 retards movement of the spirialing strand Y against the surface of the venturi 77 thus effectively preventing the whipping strand from cutting into the venturi throat 76 and damaging the aspirator.

The venturi throat 76 should be as long as possible without allowing the vortex 83 to dissipate the laminar stream 84 or the strand to cut into the venturi surface. With a throat diameter of about .20 inch. a throat length of about a half inch is preferable. As is understood in the art, the air velocity in the throat 76 is higher than downstream of the throat, and by maintaining this high speed as long as possible the strand Y is moved faster. The venturi inlet portion 74 converges at about 20 and the outlet portion 85 diverges at about 12. Apparatus as shown in FIG. 2 is capable of handling a 1,300 denier strand of yarn advancing at a velocity up to at least 3,500 y.p.m. with an operating air pressure of 80 p.s.i.

At strand speeds above 3,500 y.p.m. and up to about 5,000 y.p.m., it has been found desirable to provide a frusto-conical sheath or sleeve 86 (FIGS. 3 and 9) (converging at about 18) seated and adhesively secured on the tapered helical lands 82 as shown in FIG. 3. It should be noted that the lands and grooves 82 are cut such that the sleeve 86 seats on the tapered lands at the end of the conduit but farther back where the lands are in line with the cylindrical sidewall of the conduit 73, the sleeve is spaced from the lands. Thus, the compressed air is caused to enter the sleeve 86 and follow the spiral path defined by the lands and grooves 82 and to emerge into the venturi throat 76 in the form of the vortex 83. Furthermore, the sleeve 86 is closely spaced from the venturi surface at the venturi throat 76 (about .010 inch) and diverges from the venturi surface to its opposite end so that the air passing between the sleeve and the venturi surface is compressed and its velocity increased as the laminar stream 84 is directed into the throat 76. The laminar stream 84 enters the venturi throat 76 at higher velocity than without use of the sleeve and causes the yarn to be carried through the aspirator at a higher speed.

Should speeds in excess of 5,000 yards per minute be encountered, the apparatus is capable of handling the yarn by addition of at least a drop of liquid, such as water, into the jet 58. This drop of water may be supplied in any suitable manner, for example by water introduced into the injector tube 46 through a water supply conduit 87 (FIGS. 1 and 2). This conduit is connected with a nipple 88 extending through the injector body 43 and seal 55 and communicating with an annular passage 89 in the injector seal 55 facing the tube 46. The annular passage 89 is slightly ahead of the tube inlet port 54 when the plunger 49 is in its retracted position (FIG. 2). As the plunger 49 is moved to its extended position the inlet port 54 passes across the annular passage 89 to admit water to the interior of the tube 46, and as the resilient washer 59 at the end of the tube strikes the seal 55, the water in the tube is caused to move toward the leading end of the tube and is ejected through the port 57 along with the jet 58. The effect of the water is to more completely seal the conduit 73 in the aspirator 22 and to accelerate the yarn because of the mass of the water, so that the jet 58 is more effective in moving the yarn Y through the conduit 73.

When the filled package P has been removed from the takeup spindle 17 and a new core inserted thereon, the aspirator 22 may be removed from a mounting bracket 90 on the winding machine and used for guiding the advancing strand Y through the cutter guides 69 and 70 and around the roll 14 on the compensator arm 15, through the traverse mechanism 16 and onto the new core for winding another package P. The aspirator 22 may be releasably mounted in any suitable manner and, as illustrated, the mounting bracket 90 is fixedly mounted on the winding machine 10 and has a socket 91 (FIG. 2) telescopically receiving a finger 92 of the aspirator body 75. A groove 93 in the leading end of the finger 92 receives a guide pin 94 extending into the socket 91 so that the aspirator is stationary when on the winding machine.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for handling an advancing strand, comprising a body having a passage with an inlet end and an outlet and a connecting passage surface, and strand handling means for passing the strand through the passage and including, fluid handling means for passing a low axial velocity and relatively high tangential velocity vortex generally axially through the passage and for passing adjacent the passage surface an axially directed relatively high velocity laminar stream substantially encircling said vortex.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said vortex is effective for passing the strand axially through the passage in a path extending transversely across the passage and into said laminar stream, and said laminar stream is effective for rapidly moving the strand through the passage and substantially retarding the strand from engaging the passage surface.

3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which said passage is substantially a venturi having an elongated generally cylindrical throat, and in which said fluid handling means passes said vortex and said laminar stream through said throat.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim .1 in which said strand handling means further includes a conduit extendmg into said passage from the inlet end for the passage of the strand through said conduit and flow about said conduit of fluid forming said vortex and said laminar stream.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 in which said inlet end includes a strand inlet communicating with one end of said conduit and said conduit has an opposite outlet end, and said fluid handling means includes vortex forming means at said outlet end of said conduit for forming said vortex, and said vortex forming means is spaced from the surface of said passage for the flow of said laminar stream between said surface and said vortex forming means.

6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said vortex forming means comprises groove means along the outer surface of said conduit.

7. Apparatus as set forth in claim 5 in which said fluid handling means includes a sleeve about said conduit and said vortex forming means for flow within said sleeve of fluid forming said vortex, and said sleeve being spaced from the passage surface for flow between said sleeve and said passage surface of fluid forming said laminar stream.

8. Appartus as set forth in claim 7 in which said passage is substantially a venturi converging from said inlet end to a throat, the outlet end of said conduit is at said throat, and said sleeve converges toward said throat.

9. Apparatus as set forth in claim 8 in which said venturi throat is an elongated generally cylindrical portion.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for the passage of fluid into said venturi in a direction toward said throat to provide said vortex and said laminar stream.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 5/1953 Kelley 22697 2/ 1967 Carter 57-77.3

US. Cl. X.R. 5734 

